The Inevitably Tardy New York Times Profile of the Gayborhood’s Transformation

Tomorrow’s news, today. Or should we say: Yesterday’s news, tomorrow. This Sunday’s New York Times features a photo essay on Philly’s revamped 13th street corridor. It’s a nice item, though it doesn’t do much to dispute the commonly held notion that by the time the Times runs a trend piece, the trend is not longer really a trend.

Just 10 years ago, decayed and home to the city’s red light district, South 13th Street was a waste of central Philadelphia real estate. These days, however, check-cashing joints and adult bookshops have been replaced by “reservations a must” restaurants and high-end gelato shops, thanks largely to the efforts of Valerie Safran (pictured, at left) and Marcie Turney (at right).

The slideshow features Barbuzzo, Verde, El Vez…but you knew that already. For more on what the area’s gentrification has wrought, see my piece on the demise of prostitution in the Gayborhood.